Blood collecting device



March 31, 1970 G. PIERATT 3,503,386

BLOOD COLLECTING DEVICE Filed April 10, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

GLENN I. PIERATT M,Gubi 1w ATTORNEYS March 31, 1970 G. l. PIERATT 3,503,386

131.001) COLLECTING DEVICE Filed .April 10, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 5

INVENTOR.

GLENN I. PIERATT Mpmumw ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,503,386 BLOOD COLLECTING DEVICE Glenn I. Pieratt, PD. Box 249, Cicero, Ind. 46034 Filed Apr. 10, 1967, Ser. No. 629,470 Int. Cl. A61b /14; A61m 1/00 US. Cl. 1282 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A blood collecting device comprising a holder carrying a double-ended, hollow bored needle, an evacuated tube inc uding a stopper at the forward end of the tube, the tube being engageable with the holder so that the stopper is penetrated by the rear end of the needle. Means are provided for removing the stopper from the needle, the removing means comprising energy storage means and latch means effective, when engaged, to store energy in the energy storage means and, when disengaged, to release the stored energy. The tube and latch means are arranged so that, when the stored energy is released, the stopper is removed from the needle.

The present invention relates generally to blood collecting devices, and more particularly to blood collecting devices of the type which utilize a double-ended, hollow bored needle and several evacuated tubes, each of which has a stopper at its forward end which is penetrated by the rear end of the needle while the forward end of the needle is penetrating one of a persons veins.

It is common practice to take several blood samples from a person by sticking the forward end of such a ho low needle into one of the persons veins and then at least partially filling a plurality of evacuated tubes with blood by penetrating the stopper which seals the tube with the rear end of the needle. In some cases, as many as ten tubes are at least partially fil ed with blood without removing the forward end of the needle from the vein. Needless to say, an inexperienced or careless technician may cause undue pain or tissue damage in penetrating the stopper with the rear end of the needle and then removing the stopper from the rear end of the needle. To date, such blood collecting devices have been arranged so that the stopper is removed from the rear end of the needle by pulling longitudinally on the evacuated tube after is it filled with the desired amount of blood. The problem with such an arrangement is that a rubber-like stopper which will provide the necessary seal for the tube is not so easily removed from the rear end of the needle. In fact, in some cases, this stopper will frictional' y engage the needle so that it is extremely difficult to pull the stopper olf the needle without disturbing the position of the needle in the vein.

It is a primary object of the present invention, therefore, to provide such a blood-collecting device comprising means for removing the stopper from the needle without disturbing the position of the needle in the vein.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such a blood co lecting device comprising an energy storage means and latch means effective, when engaged, to store energy in the energy storage means, and, when disengaged, to release the stored energy, the tube and the latch means being arranged so that, when the stored energy is released, the stopper is removed from the needle.

The above-mentioned energy storage means and latch means are part of an adapter which is arranged receivably to engage the end of the tube carrying the stopper. Thus, adapters can be placed on several tubes and preloaded to 3,503,386 Patented Mar. 31, 1970 store energy in the energy storage means of each adapter before the blood collecting operation begins.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent as this description progresses.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, the present invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that change may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described, so long as the scope of the appended claims is not violated.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a partially sectioned, elevation view of a conventional blood-collecting device showing the doubleended needle and an evacuated tube;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the adapter of the present invention showing a spring and a means for storing energy in the spring;

FIG. 3 is a sectioned, elevation view of the adapter of FIG. 2 showing the forward end of the evacuated tube receivably engaged by the adapter;

FIG. 4 is an elevation view of the adapter of FIG. 2 showing the means whereby energy is stored in the spring; and

FIG. 5 is a partially sectioned view showing the adapter of FIG. 2 received in a holder which carries a doubleended, hollow bored needle.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a conventional blood-co lecting device will be described. The blood-collecting device of FIG. 1 comprises a double-ended, hollow bored needle 10 carried at the forward end 12 of a cup-shaped holder 14 having an open rear end 16 and conventional flanges 18 disposed adjacent the rear end 16. The forward end 20 of the needle 10- is inserted into a vein and then an evacuated tube 22 having a seal-providing stopper 24 is inserted into the ho der 14 as shown. The nurse or technician will press on the rear end 26 of the tube 22 with her thumb and pull on the flanges 18 with her fingers until the rear end 28 of the needle 10 penetrates through the stopper 24, thereby permitting blood to flow into the tube 22. Of course, blood flows from the vein into the tube 22 because the tube is evacuated.

After the desired amount of blood is collected in the tube 22, the tube is conventionally pulled in the direction of the arrow 29 relative to the holder 14 and the rear end 28 of the needle 10 to remove the stopper 24 from the rear end or" the needle. As stated previously, this is not always easily accomplished. The present invention provides means for removing such a stopper 24 from the rear end 28 without disturbing the position of the needle 10 in the vein.

The present invention comprises an adapter, indicated generally by the reference number 30, which receivably engages the end of the tube 22 containing the stopper 24 and which is receivably engaged by a holder 56 (FIG. 5), similar to the holder 14.

The adapter 30 comprises a hollow cylinder 32 having a pair of axially extending slots 34 in the wall thereof, each of the slots 34 opening into a short, circumferentially extending slot 36. The forward end of the cylinder 32 is provided with a centrally located aperture 38 and generally radially disposed serrations 40, the purpose of which will be discussed in conjunction with FIG. 5. A generally cylindrically-shaped slide element 42 having radially outwardly extending lugs 44 is arranged for axial reciprocation in the cylinder 32, each of the lugs 44 being slidably received in one of the axially extending slots 34 and circumferentially extending slots 36. A spring 46 is disposed between the front end of the cylinder 32 and the slide element 42 as shown in FIG. 3, the spring being arranged to oppose movement of the slide element 42 in the direction of the arrow 48.

As seen in FIG. 3, the rear end of the slide element 42 is provided with a cut-out 50 which receives the stopper 24. Since the stopper 24 is preferably fabricated from a rubber-like material, the stopper is frictionally held in the cut-out 50 so that, when the stopper is rotated in the direction of the arrow 52 about its axis, the slide element 42 is thereby rotated. Also, this stopper 24 is preferably 4 frictionally held in the cut-out 50 so that, when the tube 22 is pulled in a direction opposite to the arrow 48, the

slide element 42 and, consequently, the cylinder 32 are pulled in the same direction.

It will be seen, therefore, that when the tube 2-2 is pushed in the direction of the arrow 48 relative to the cylinder 32, energy will be stored in the spring 46. Thus,

when each lug 44 is against the forward end 54 of the slot 34 in which the lug is slidably received, the element 42 may be rotated by rotating the tube 22 until each lug 44 is received in its circumferentially extending slot 36, thereby storing energy in the spring 46. This feature is clearly illustrated in FIG. 4, which shows a lug 44 at the rear end of one of the axially extending slots 34 and the spring 46 expanded, and in FIG. 5, which shows the lug 44 in the circumferentially extending slot 36 and the spring 46 compressed. Thus, to release the energy still in the spring 46, it is necessary to rotate the lugs 44 out of their respective circumferentially extending slots 36 so that the lugs are free to move in the axially extending slots 34.

The adapter 30 is arranged to be received in a holder 56, which is similar to the holder 14 except as will be discussed, as shown in FIG. 5. A double-ended, hollow bored needle 58 is arranged to extend through the forward end of the holder 56 as indicated generally by the reference number 60. Conventional threaded adapter means 62 is provided for securing the needle 58 against movement relative to the holder 56. The rear end 64 of the needle 58 extends axially back through the holder 56 to penetrate through the stopper 24 when the adapter 30 and tube 22 are pushed into the holder 56. That is, the rear end 64 of the needle 58 extends through the cylinder 32, spring 46, an aperture 66 in the slide element 42 and the stopper 24. The cylinder 32 is free to move longitudinally in the holder 46. However, the inside surface of the forward end wall of the holder 56 is preferably provided with serrations 68 which engage the serrations 40 on the cylinder 32 to prevent rotation of the cylinder 32 in the holder 56. Thus, after the desired amount of blood is drawn into the tube 22, the tube may be rotated in the direction of the arrow 70 (FIG. to move the lugs 44 out of their respective slots 36 so that the spring 46 may urge the slide element 42 against the stopper 24- to remove the stopper from the rear end 64 of the needle 58.

It has been found that the sudden release of energy stored in a spring, such as the spring 46, is effective to remove the stopper 24 from the rear end 64 of the needle 58. Each lug 44, when engaged in its circumferentially extending slot 36, acts as a latch means effective to store energy in the spring 46. Of course, moving each lug 44 out of its circumferentially extending slot 36 releases the energy stored in the spring 46. In practice, an adapter 30 could be placed on each of several tubes 22. and the springs 46 could be preloaded before the blood collecting operation is started. Thus, a technician would find it relatively easy to pick up one of the tubes 22 having an adapter 30 mounted thereon and insert it into and remove it from the holder 56 as described above.

What is claimed is:

1. A blood sampling device comprising a holder, a double-ended, hollow bored needle carried by said holder, an evacuated tube including a topper at the forward end of said tube, and a removable adapter arranged receivably to engage the forward end of said tube and to be operably engaged between said holder and said tube, said adapter comprising energy storage means and latch means effective, when engaged, to store energy in said energy storage means and, when disengaged, to release the stored energy, said adapter being arranged so that, when said tube is received in said adapter and said adapter is engaged with said holder, said stopper is penetrated by the rear end of said needle, and said tube being receivably engaged by said adapter so that, when said stored energy is released, said stopper is removed from said needle.

2. A blood sampling device as in claim 1 wherein said latch means comprises an element which is moved in opposition to said energy storage means to build up energy therein when said tube is inserted into said adapter and means for releasably holding said element in a position which will store energy in said energy storage means.

3. A blood collecting apparatus comprising a holder, a double-ended, hollow bored needle carried by said holder, an evacuated tube including a stopper at the forward end of said tube, said tube being engageable with said holder so that said stopper is penetrated by the rear end of said needle, and means for removing said stopper from said needle, said removing means comprising energy storage means, and latch means effective, when engaged, to store energy in said energy storage means and, when disengaged, to release the stored energy, said tube being engaged with said latch means so that, when said stored energy is released, said stopper is removed from said needle, said latch means comprising an adapter engageable between said holder and said tube, said adapter comprising cooperating guide and slide means, said energy storage means being disposed between said guide and slide means yieldably to oppose movement of said slide means in one direction relative to said guide means, and means for releasably holding said slide means in a'position which will store energy in said energy storage means, and said slide means being engageable with the forward end of said tube so that movement of said tube in said one direction relative to said guide means will move said slide means to said energy storing position, whereby energy can be stored in said energy storage means before said adapter is engaged with said holder.

4. A blood collecting apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said guide means is a hollow cylinder having an axially extending slot in the wall thereof, said slot opening into a circumferentially extending slot, said slide means having a lug movably received in said axially extending'slot and said circumferentially extending slot, said slide means being held in said energy storing position when said lug is received in said circumferentially extending slot, said slide means being frictionally engaged with said stopper sothat, when said tube is turned in one direction about its axis, said lug is moved out of said circumferentially extending slot and is thereby freed to move in said axially extending slot.

5. A blood sampling device comprising a hollow, cylindrically-shaped holder having an open rear end and an apertured front end wall, a double-ended, hollow bored needle having each of its ends pointed, said needle extending axially through said aperture, means for holding said needle against movement relative to said holder, an evacuated, cylindrically-shaped tube, a stopper providing a seal at the forward end of said tube, a hollow, cylindrically-shaped adapter having an open rear end for receiving the forward end of said tube and an aperture in its front end for receiving the rear end of said needle, an element arranged for axial reciprocation in said adapter, spring means disposed in said adapter and resiliently resisting forward movement of said element toward said needle, and means for releasably latching said element in a position which will store energy in said spring means, said adapter being received through said rear end of said holder so that said stopper is penetrated by the rear end of said needle, said element being engaged with the forward end of said tube so that, when said stored energy is released, said stopper is removed from said needle.

6. A blood sampling device as in claim 5 wherein the inside surface of the front end wall of said holder is provided with serrations and wherein the outside surface of the front end of said adapter is provided with serrations which engage the first-mentioned serrations, thereby preventing rotation of said adapter relative to said holder.

7. A blood sampling device as in claim 5 wherein said stopper frictionally engages said element so that, when said tube is pulled toward the rear of said adapter, said adapter is pulled toward the rear end of said holder.

8. For use with a blood collecting device including a holder providing a chamber open at its rear end and rigidly carrying at its forward end a hypodermic needle having a sharpened end projecting forwardly beyond said holder and a sharpened rear end disposed in said chamber, the improvement being an adapter comprising an open-ended casing receivable in said chamber with the forward end of said casing disposed between the forward end of said chamber and the rear end of said needle, an apertured slide reciprocally retained in said casing, said slide being proportioned and designed at its rear end for retentively receiving the stopper of an evacuated tube, energy storage means in said casing resiliently resisting forward movement of said slide, and latch means for releasably retaining said slide in a position in which the rear end of said needle penetrates a stopper so received in said slide.

9. The invention of claim 8 in which the Wall of said casing is provided with a part peripherally extending slot and an axially extending slot opening into said peripherally extending slot and extending rearwardly therefrom, and in which said latch means includes a rigid lug extending outwardly from said slide to reciprocate in said axially extending slot and to be engageable in said part peripherally extending slot releasably to hold said slide in its said position, the retentive reception of the rear end of said slide with the forward end of said tube being such that said lug is movable out of engagement with said part peripheral slot and into said axial extending slot by rotating said tube.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,845,930 2/1932 Morrow 128-276 1,881,415 10/1932 Tingleff 128-276 2,639,709 5/1953 Volgenau 128-276 3,162,195 12/1964 Dick 128-276 FOREIGN PATENTS 536,438 5/1941 Great Britain. 272,034 2/ 1930 Italy.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner MARTIN F. MAJESTIC, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 128-276 

